And So It Begins

I had 4 viles of blood drawn today for a compatibility test against a new potential recipient.  I asked the coordinator today if we had moved on, or this was the original person I was matched with.  She informed me that I was moved to the next person.
So what happens now?  Well this blood will be taken to the blood center and run against the potential recipient.  These test at best take 2 weeks.  But since I am very serious about donating, they are proceeding with my other tests required for my work up while we wait.  Tomorrow I have to go see the Dr to get annual woman check up.  Wednesday morning I start my 24 hour urine collection, and I turn that in on Thursday morning.  I will be at the hospital most of the day on Thursday for a battery of tests.  Including: but not limited to:
Renal CTA with arteries, veins and ureters, and 3D Construction.
24 TP
24 CREAT                 Not sure what these 3 things are
24 CREATCL
Chest X-Ray
EKG
Blood Tests for CBC, EP1, LIVP, PHOS, HBSAB, HBSAG, HBCAB. HCVAB, HIV, CMV, EBVPROF, SYPHILIS, FATS, PT, PTT

Not sure what all the blood tests stand for, but I will let you know on Thursday (next) how many viles they took.

Step #2

I received a Call about a week ago that I had matched a few different people on the donation list at the hospital that handled my mom's transplant.  They wanted to proceed with a certain one of those matches because I guess the possibility and health demographic matched the best.  During that call, the coordinator told me that the next step would be a blood draw from both myself and this person within 24 hours of each other, as to run a Cross Match.  This is a more in depth test to see if our blood type is compatible with the possible recipient.  But we had to wait at least 2 weeks and up to 6 possibly.  She said they would reevaluate within the week and let me know if they would proceed with this person or move me on to my next match.  From the conclusions I formed in my mind, and after gaining a bit of knowledge watching my mom go thru renal failure, that this person was currently NOT on the transplant list.  This could be due to illness or their initial workup still wasn't complete.  Sometimes when you go on the National Transplant List you get pulled off if you get sick, or too many factors add up against a successful transplant.
Well today I received another call (one week later, not two) saying that they were going to proceed with my work up and I need to come in for that blood draw.  I am not sure if they are keeping me with the same person or if they moved me on to the next person I match best.  I am not allowed to know anything about the possible recipient yet, or maybe ever.  I would want to meet them before surgery and see them again after.  But based on HIPAA personal information can not be released.  And in order to be able to know anything about the recipient or even meeting them, both parties would have to sign a consent form.
I am going tomorrow at 10am to get my blood drawn.  I will post another update sometime tomorrow about what goes on at the hospital.

Why

Some people ask me why I have decided to do this.....there are many answers to that question, but I will start with my deepest and most personal motivation...

Got the Call

Last Wednesday I got a call from the kidney coordinator at the hospital.  My initial blood typing yielded many possible matches for recipients that are actively on the list.  She didn't give me the exact number, but it was quite high.
What happens now? Well they are taking those possible matches and tissue typing our blood to see if and what type of antibodies a person might have.  They are looking for the best match between me and someone.  I am not going to be involved in choosing my recipient.  But I did express to the coordinator that if it comes down to a choice, that I would prefer it go to the person who is younger, and has desires to do things in life.
A friend asked me yesterday, are you sure that's really what you want to do?  What if the situation applied to your mom and she didn't receive her kidney based on the fact someone has said they wanted to donate to a younger person.  I looked my friend in the eye and said if that had happened with my mom, I would also have wanted that possible donation to go to someone who was younger and it would give them a chance to live a longer and fuller life.  Some people may think I am foolish about this, but I am secure in my decision.  I am thankful mom received her kidney.
I am not by any means trying to play God and choosing who I might be able to help.  But I would hope my kidney would go to someone who is a good person who deserves it.
Another person has expressed interest in talking me out of this, bringing up the fact what if someone else in you biological family or even the family of the donor ends up needing a kidney.  I found a great response to this in a blog entitles The Kidney Chronicles.  The author stated "I couldn't justify not saving a life today because it might inhibit my ability to possibly save one in the future. My wife has a spare kidney for them, and we both have loving families who may be willing to help if one of my kids is in need of a kidney. Moreover, neither my family nor my wife's has any history of kidney disease, obesity, or diabetes." 
I should be receiving another call come Tuesday.